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New Legislator Orientation Phase II: FY 2016-17 State Operating Budget Overview

Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana in 2000 and retail marijuana in 2012 through amendments to the Colorado Constitution. This issue brief provides an overview of current state law and regulations pertaining to medical and retail marijuana, and discusses the role of local governments in regulating marijuana. The federal government considers all marijuana to be a Schedule I controlled substance with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. As such, the federal government does not have a direct role in marijuana regulation.

The Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) 1 creates a presumption in favor of public access to government documents. This issue brief addresses CORA’s two threshold questions: 1) what is and is not considered a public record; and 2) which public records are exempt from disclosure. It also briefly outlines CORA’s requirements for responding to an open records request.

The senior homestead property tax exemption became available beginning in property tax year 2002, following voter approval of Referendum A in the 2000 General Election. The number of seniors claiming the exemption has grown over time, from 123,326 qualifying seniors in tax year 2002, to 266,538 seniors in tax year 2021.  Local governments are required to be reimbursed by the state for the property tax revenue impact of the exemption. In FY 2021-22, reimbursements for the senior homestead exemption totaled $156.5 million.

This memorandum provides information about the oversight and review of capital projects. It defines capital projects and gives a sequential overview of the capital process, including master and program planning requirements, the initial review of capital requests, the role of the Capital Development Committee (CDC) in the review process, and the oversight of projects after an appropriation or spending authority is conveyed.

Colorado’s state court system is comprised of many different courts, including the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals (COA), and district courts. Colorado law also governs county courts and jurisdiction-specific courts in Denver.1 This issue brief describes the qualification requirements and appointment, retention, and disciplinary processes for Colorado judges.

Colorado was tied for the fifth highest suicide rate in the nation in 2014, the most recent year of nationally available data.  In 2015, there were 1,093 suicides among Colorado residents, which is the highest number of suicides in the state’s history.  This issue brief outlines legislative actions taken in recent years to address Colorado’s high suicide rate and resources for those in need of assistance and support.

Understanding the State Budget: The Big Picture

• Where do our taxes go?
• State Government Revenue
• General Fund Budget
• TABOR Revenue Limit

Schedule of Title Board Hearing Dates and Related Deadlines (December 2016 – April 2017)

Colorado Department of Agriculture Performance Plan for FY16

Colorado's transportation system consists of a network of roads, highways, bridges, mass transit lines, airports, and rail systems. State and local governments maintain the system with funding from federal, state, and local government sources. Subject to certain constitutional limitations, the General Assembly has determined the methods of financing Colorado’s transportation system and delegated transportation planning to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and local governments.